The desert sands of Sakhir are an unlikely place for a political statement. But then, amidst the growing inferno of political turbulence, Formula One managed to keep its head above the sand by allowing the race to carry on amidst growing security fears to assert that violence cannot disrupt life. World Champion Sebastian Vettel regained an old habit, by claiming the 31st pole position of his prolific career with a lap of 1 minute 32.422s at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton, who it seemed had the pace to top the charts, eventually had to make do with second just 0.098s behind the German. Mark Webber ended a spectacular qualifying session for the Red Bull team by taking third ahead Britain's Jenson Button.

The resurgence of the Mercedes team faced a stutter, when Michael Schumacher failed to make it to the second session of qualifying. But the winner in China Nico Rosberg offered some consolation, with a steady afternoon earning him a spot on the third row alongside Toro Rosso's surprisingly fast Daniel Ricciardo.

The first two practice sessions for the Bahrain Grand Prix took place today at the Sakhir International Circuit. The team completed a total of 106 laps in the two practice sessions today - nearly two race distances. The focus was on comparing and understanding tyre performance in much hotter conditions than in China last week. Six Mercedes-Benz powered drivers finished in the top seven in P1; and four in the top six in the afternoon session.

Norbert Haug: "We had a pretty good first day learning quite a lot about the big challenge of how to use the tyres in the best possible way and make them last during the necessary number of laps in the race. There was more grip in the second session which helped. We still have room for improvement but I think our team has a good understanding of what will be required here on Sunday. Having said that, it is much too early to judge where we are compared to our competitors."

Sahara Force India completed a busy morning practice session in Bahrain with Paul Di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg each completing 26 laps respectively. Both drivers used the soft and medium tyres during the session. For logistical reasons the team will run a rescheduled programme for the rest of the weekend, which will result in the team missing second practice to ensure the most competitive performance in FP3, qualifying and the race.

Paul di Resta (P3, 1:34.150, 26 laps): "The track was very green and dusty to begin with, but we got on with the programme quickly and did the usual balance work, cooling checks and got a feel for both the medium and the soft tyres. The baseline set-up was not a long way off, but our focus for tomorrow is to improve our performance in the low-speed corners."

With a packed grid of more than 20 vehicles, the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland takes off into its 23rd season in Hockenheim on 27 to 29 April. And it brings many new features. Two races per weekend, higher prize money and an amateur classification make Germany's fastest one-marque race series even more attractive. The two Porsche Juniors Klaus Bachler and Michael Christensen contest their first race with the 450 hp Porsche 911 GT3 Cup in Hockenheim. Fans can expect much more comprehensive and diverse reporting on television and the internet. One of the highlights of this season is the guest appearance as support to the 24 hour classic on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife.

Amongst the drivers with title aspirations is Sean Edwards (Great Britain, Team Deutsche Post by tolimit), the 2011 vice-champion, and two of last year's race winners Nicki Thiim (Denmark, Hermes Attempto Racing) and Jaap van Lagen (Netherlands, FE-Racing by Land Motorsport) as well as Norbert Siedler (Austria), who follows in the footsteps of Nick Tandy with the Konrad Motorsport squad. After winning the championship title of the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland last year, the greatest success of his career, Tandy has made the switch to international GT racing. Kévin Estre is another driver who is good for a surprise in the Carrera Cup. Last year, the Frenchman clinched the Rookie of the Year title in the international Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup.

Twenty years of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup: The anniversary season of the world's fastest international one-make race series takes off with a double-header round on 21 and 22 April on the Bahrain International Circuit. Heading into the season as title favourite is reigning champion René Rast from Germany with the 450 hp Porsche 911 GT3 Cup fielded by Lechner Racing. Rast is looking forward to returning to the desert nation. "The last time I competed in Bahrain I won both races. I'll be doing everything within my power to repeat that result this year," says the Supercup champion of 2010 and 2011.

As the flagship series of the 19 Porsche one-make championships worldwide, the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup boasts a healthy grid line-up again this season. "We have a balanced field and we're also looking forward to welcoming some new teams into the Supercup family," says Jonas Krauss, Head of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup at Porsche Motorsport. "Onboard are some eager young newcomers like Jeroen Mul coming from Formula 3, Renger van der Zande who contested the DTM in 2011, and ex-Formula 1 test driver Michael Ammermüller. This underlines once more just how attractive the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup is as a spring board for a successful GT career or as a challenge for seasoned professionals."

In motorsport, there are days when the stars simply seem to align and everything comes together perfectly. Sunday in Shanghai was one of those days. Nico Rosberg won his first Grand Prix at his 111th attempt - 111 years (and three weeks) after the first ever Mercedes took victory at the 1901 Nice Speed Weeks. What's more, this year marks exactly three decades since Nico's father Keke became world champion - in a season that, just like 2012, saw three different winners of the first three races (on the road, at least, before the first two finishers in Brazil were disqualified for technical irregularities...)

Yesterday, Nico also became a member of a very select club: drivers who have won a Grand Prix in a Silver Arrow. The story of the silver Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix cars stretches back to June 1934, and the debut of the Mercedes-Benz W 25 at the Eifelrennen, held on the Nürburgring. The winner that day was Manfred von Brauchitsch, and Nico has now written a new chapter in that proud 78-year tradition.